立冬是冬季的第一个节气，也是中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第十九个节气。立，是“建立、开始”的意思；冬有“终了”的意思。所以，立冬至，则冬日始，秋收作物要储藏起来了。
立冬的英语表达很简单，即Start of Winter。
古时人们将立冬视作冬天的开端，然而，受地理环境和纬度因素影响，各地实际入冬的时间也会不同。
In fact, the Start of Winter is not the beginning of winter in terms of meteorology. The climate every year is different, so the beginning of winter could be quite different. And with the vast territory of China, winter time starts at different times in different areas.
事实上，从气象学上讲，立冬并非冬天的开始。每年的气候都是不一样的，因而冬天开始的时间也会有所差异。由于中国幅员辽阔，每个地区的冬季也不会在同一时间开始。
立冬有哪些习俗呢？一起来看看吧。
迎冬仪式
立冬与立春、立夏、立秋一同并称为“四立”，古时皇帝会在立冬这天出郊“迎冬”。《吕氏春秋》中也有相关记载：“立冬之日，天子亲率三公九卿大夫以迎冬于北郊。”
The beginnings of the four seasons were important festivals in ancient times. Before the Start of Winter, the ancient emperor would take a shower and have no more meat. On that day, the emperor would lead his officials to the suburbs and perform the ceremony of “welcoming the winter”.
古时，“四立”都是重要的节日。立冬之前，帝王会沐浴斋戒，到了节日当天，将率领百官到郊外举行迎冬仪式。
饺子的由来
饺子的诞生有个典故。相传在东汉末年，“医圣”张仲景发明了“娇耳” 来救治耳朵冻伤的伤寒病人。
He cooked mutton, hot peppers and herbs to dispel the cold and warm up the body. He wrapped these ingredients into a dough skin and made them into an ear shape.
张仲景用羊肉、辣椒和草药煮熟来祛寒暖身。他把这些材料包在面皮里，做成耳朵的形状。
Since then, people have learned to make the food which became known as “dumpling” or jiaozi. Today there is still a saying that goes “Eat dumplings on Start of Winter Day, or your ears will be frostbitten.”
自那以后，人们就学会了“饺子”的做法。如今，民间还流传着“立冬不端饺子碗，冻掉耳朵没人管”的俗语。
补冬
为御寒，我国东南部地区如福建、广东和台湾等有在立冬这天，进食可驱寒的食物来“补冬”的传统。所以民间素有“立冬补冬，补嘴空”的说法。
To prepare for the oncoming cold winter, people there like to eat high-calorie food such as chicken, duck, beef, mutton, and fish,
那里的人会吃高热量的食物来为即将到来的冬季做准备，如鸡、鸭、牛肉、羊肉和鱼等，
which are usually stewed with the four Chinese medicines: angelica, ligusticum wallichii, Chinese herbaceous peony and rehmannia glutinosa libosch, to enhance the effectiveness of the nourishment.
并常常与当归、川芎、芍药和地黄一同熬煮，以增强滋补功效。
吃南瓜
南瓜耐存放，是不少家庭的冬储菜品。在天津，人们会在立冬第一天吃南瓜馅的饺子。
It is a common vegetable in North China. Generally, the pumpkins are bought in the summer and stored until the Start of Winter.
南瓜是中国北方常见的蔬菜，人们通常会在夏天买南瓜，然后储存起来，等到立冬再拿出来吃。
吃团子
无锡人在立冬有吃糯米团子的习俗。团子有豆沙、萝卜、腊肉等多种馅料，蒸熟后食用，香糯无比。
At this time, the autumn grain crops have just been sold on the market, and the tuanzi made by the newly-harvested crops tastes delicious.
在此期间，秋收谷物已经上市，而新收的五谷制作的团子更加美味。
Most rural residents make tuanzi by themselves, while urban residents buy ready-made tuanzi. The stuffing can be sweet bean paste, radish or lard.
大多数农村居民会亲手制作团子，城市居民则会买已经做好的成品。团子有豆沙、萝卜泥和猪油馅的。
冬天要到啦，温馨提示：睡前泡脚，有助于入眠哦。
转自|中国日报双语新闻
审核|刘久龙 苗宸熙
校对|李佳 王潇 潘辉
